Apparatus for removing drum covers



May 6, 1952 yr-:; GRANDINETTI ETAL 2,595,245

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING DRUM COVERS Filed April 26, 1950 3`Sheets-Sheet l May 6, 1952 E. GRANDINET-rl ETAL 2,595,245

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING DRUM COVERS Filed April 26, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 g v v ,qv A v' A v INI/awww May 6, 1952 E. GRANDINETTI ETAL 2,595,245

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING DRUM COVERS Filed April 26, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 atented May 6, 1952 AifPARA'rs FOR RMovING DRUM CovERs Eugene Grandinetti, Ozone Park, John Je Rush, yNew York, antlvOliver C.' Balmer, Westerleigh, N. Y., assignors-to The M; W. Kellogg Company,

Jersey'City, N. J.; a corporation of Delaware Application April ze, 1950,?Seria1Nj1'5aioz s claims. (orari-11s) l This invention relates to apparatus for removing drum covers. In one aspect the invention relates to apparatus for removing lcolringedrum covers. In another aspecty the inventionrelates to apparatus for removing bottom covers of coking drums, employedin delayedcokng'plants, as more fully hereinafter described, for the purpose of dropping solid coke into freight cars 'stationed beneath these drums.

Y Batch--type coking plants are usually comprised of, a furnacefor heating the Viscous fluid bottoms product of Voil fractionating towers or stills to a temperature of about935 F, and a cokingdrum for storing the hot bottoms 'oil frac tion for a period of approximately 24 hours until the oil solidiiies into coke. The coking-drum is a large structure, generally labout 18 feet in diameter and about 90 feet high 'and is supported about 23'feet above grade on heavy vconcrete or structural steel framework. The drums are usually arranged 'in a row of two or more o ver va railroad track. `After the coke has solidified within 'the drum, itis necessary to quench the hot coke by introducing sucientwater `into vthe drum. The quantity of water thus introduced into the drum is based upon the lpump capacity and the period of time required for obtaining a complete quench. Us'uallythe quantity of water required is as high as' 4,000 gallons. vWater 4thus introduced into the drum is, in theory, supposed to drain out of the drum after quenching. However, a' large portion vof the water istrpped within the drum becauseof clogging of thedrains by the solidified coke'. The lupper cover-plate of the dvr-um iis usually r'emeved'and a liole'app'roxim'atelyv 30 inches in diameter is drilled-into the upper surface or the coke,lwithinthe`druni, to the .lower cover-plate onthe bottmof the drum. The llower Yoever-plate is thenremoved; and accumulated Water and loose-chunksofcoke are allowed to dropout of the lower 'inanvvay After the loose material has been cleared. a freight car is brought in underthedrurn and a scraping tool isr applied to the colte through the drill lhole tvo-break up the coke-and -p'ush 'it into the freight car beneath the'drum. The -low'er cover of the above-mentioned coke-drumis usually a steel plate, approximately 82 inches in diameter, 4% inches in thickness and may 'weigh as muchas 31/2 tons. This lower cover Vis attached to the bottom of the drum by bolts which pass through threaded nuts welded to the periphery of thelower manway.

The formation of solid coke above the lower coverrtends to cause 'it tostick in' position. Since there is` an A,unknown amount of watrvand'loose coke material within the'drum, whiohee'rt'fa downward force onthe cover,V itis iiipossiblrelto ascertain at exactlywhat pointtlebover w'ill give way when partially -or completely' lunbolt'eii ior'the purpose of coke'rernoval. For this reason. it has been the practice, for personnel protection, to place a jack under the cover 'to` retain the mass of water and lose'cole inthe fdruin until allthe -bolts are removed.V After the cover has been unbolted, it mustfbe'lowered. This'iis usually followed by `a deluge o'f vseveral'tonsvof water and loose coke. Morov'e'rjthe coverfoften reinains stuck in Vpositioneveii after removals-'of all'the bolts, and the problem of jaekingit loose is then presented in which l-cer'sonnelmust work under dangerous conditions. VThe 'resulting debris, the jack, its supporting sca'ioldfand lother" tools must then be vremoved before "a'freiglit 'car can be moved inunder the lowerina-nvv'ay. V-Tli'is troublesome and vdangerc'ius *operation 4vof v*the plant depends upon ythe `ota'ti'or'i of service Jpefriods off each of the several fdrums. Y y

It'is, thereforefanobj'ec't of 'the present invenf tion to provide an apparatus for'removing-'lower covers of coling vessels, for" transfer of solid coke without hazard to' the operator.

Another object of the invention is At'o provide an apparatus for removing lower covers of coking vessels, for transfer of solid coke, y'e'iiiizie''itly'and economically.

l Other-objects and Y advantages inherent vin the ing description. l A Y l 'For a complete understanding fof the-invention referenoe s had to ltlie following' descripti'nnd drawingsfin which v -Fig`f1 i-s a transverse--seotionvof the-lower porgtion' of Va `ookingdrum,in which VIVthe apparati-'is of the present invention in position foiremoving the lower 'cover of' the'l'diurnj Fig,*2 is a view'c'f the saine apparatsnoved asideifrom'the lower ope4 ng -of the `c'vivledriin while discharge of the 'contents-of lthe eolici-drum into a freight car takes place; Y

Fig. 3 is 'a longitudinal side .view effraie fewer portion of the'cokll'lg plantshowingth vei removing apparatus in position for transfer from one drum to another;

Fig. 4 is' a'pe'rspe'ctivev View, -partlyfin section, showing a movable platform and apparatus'for removing the vlower cover ofthecoked'rum;

Fig. 5 is Yan elevational viw Aof -a movable wrench employed for l'oosen'ingorr tightening `the holding bolts of thelower'cover; andv A 5 without interfering with freight-car movement under the drum. The apparatus comprises a bolt-removing wrench movably mounted upon a circular track with a device to raise the wrench vertically to engage bolt heads, a hydraulic jack mounted eoncentrically with the track to support the cover during removal operations (these devices being mounted upon a platform which is movable by trolley beams and a eraneway to a cover-removing positionl, and hydraulic means for operating the jack mounted on the platform in a shielded position in full visual control.

The operationV of a coking plant employing the apparatus of the present invention, is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings. In these figures the unloading of drums I (Figs. 1 and 2) or II (Fig. 3) are exactly similar in operation and are carried out with the same apparatus of the invention but at different times. Drums I0 and II are two massive cylindrical coke-drums, supported with their vertical axes on a concrete supporting structure I2. The upper portions of drums I0 and II and the openings at their upper ends are not shown, since they are not pertinent to the invention herein described.

As indicated above, unloading of drums I0 or II are exactly similar operations but are carried out at different times. The unloading devices are supported on a platform I3 which is movable from one drum to the other on rollers I9 by means of transverse trolley beams I5 and a craneway I6. The coke material is removed through a circular iianged opening I1, as shown in Fig. 2, in the lower cone-shaped end I8 of drum I0, by removing a lower cover 23. Cover 2U is attached to opening I1 by means of bolts 2| which pass upwardly through peripheral holes 22, as shown in Fig. 5, in cover and through matchingperipheral holes 23 in an annular fiange 24. surrounding lower opening I1, so as to thread into nuts 25 above flange 24. When lower cover 20 is removed from drum Ill, platform I3 is rolled from the position in which it appears in Fig. 1 tothe position in which it appears in Fig. 2, so that coke 26 can be discharged, after being loosened as previously described, into freight-car 21. The movable beams I5, from which platform I3 is suspended are themselves movably suspended bymeans of rollers 29 to move longitudinally on Craneway I6 as seen in Fig. 3. .f -After platform I3 has been placed in position under drum IIJ, retractable supports, indicated generally by the numeral 3| and shown in more detail in Fig. 6, are lowered so that the platform is supported on supports 3I and not on trolley beams I4, `while lower cover 20 is being removed or replaced. When these supports are lowered platform I3 is actually lifted a short distance, usually about an inch or more.

EachA retractable support 3 I, as shown in Fig. 6, is comprised of a threaded shaft 32 rotatable within a threaded block 33 mounted in a corner of platform I3. Rotation is accomplished by the operator by rotating wheel 34. When platform 4 I3 is newly moved into position under one of the drums, the retractable support will be in an elevated position. When in proper position under the drum, bolts 35 and 31 will be found in position held by washers and nuts 4I in holes 38 in I-beam 39, which runs longitudinally along a shelf 43, as shown in Fig. 1, which comprises part of concrete structure I2. Wheel 34 is rotated to bring the lower end of shaft 32 to bear upon I-beam 33 through a threaded hole in plate 42, and rotation is continued until brought to a stop by the engagement of plate 42 with the heads 43 of bolts 35 and 31. In Fig. 4 is shown plate 42 horizontally positioned under platform I3 and having a center-threaded hole for shaft 32 and loose-fit holes for bolts 35 and 31.

On platform I3, a heavy circular track 58, as

" shown in Fig. 4, is provided to support a dolly.

As shown in Fig. 5, dolly 5I carries a pneumatic wrench 52, supplied with air through lines 53 and movable vertically into position by means of lever arm 54. Lever arm 54 is shown in Fig. 5 in heavy lines in a raised position and in dashed lines 55 in lowered position. Before bolts 2l are actually removed, hydraulic jack 65, as shown in Fig. 4, is raised into position and platen 6I is pushed directly against the lower surface of cover 20. Platen 6I is provided with four vertical lugs 62 (see Fig. 4) projecting radially outward and engageable with corresponding lugs B3 at'cover 20. Lugs 62 and S3 are bolted together by means of bolts B4 so that cover 20 can be pulled down by hydraulic jack 6B. Rigidity for hydraulic jack 68 is provided at its four corners by four guided columns 65.

Hydraulic jack 6B, as shown in Fig. 4, can be operated by means of hand-pump 66 and controls 61, located in a safe position near one end of platform I3 and separated by a shield 1D so as to protect the operator. Window 1I is provided so that the operator may observe the lowering of cover 2|] from a safe position behind shield 10, after bolts 2| have been removed with pneumatic wrench 52.

In carrying out the removal of coke employing the apparatus of the present invention, after coke-drum I0 has been closed and made ready for charging, movable platform I 3 is moved transversely by pulling at a hand-chain 12, as shown in Fig. 1, connected by suitable gearing to rollers I9. The transverse movement is continued until platform I3 has been moved from the fixed transverse trolley beams I4 onto the movable transverse beamsV I5, which are suspended from the craneway I-IS outside of the structure proper. Craneway I6 is positioned so that the ends of fixed transverse trolley beams I4 and movable transverse beams I5 are exactly in line and will remain so until further moved by the operator, and until platform I3 is entirely supported from Craneway I6.

At this time movable trolley beams I5 can be released from the fixed trolley beams I4. The movable platform I3 is supported on movable trolley beams I5 which in turn are supported on rollers 29 (as Shown in Fig. 2), which run on craneway I6. Platform I3 can be moved longitudinally by pulling on chain 13 until it reaches the point where the crane beams 'exactly match the n'ext pair of fixed trolley beams under the next coke-drum.

The coke-drum I0 is now in line transversely with the movable trolley beams I5 and also with the fixed trolley beams I4 and is ready to be uncovered. The movable platform I3 is driven ofi from the lmovable trolley beams I5 onto fixed trolley beams I4 under the coke-drum and thence under the lower cover until the platform I3 has -reached the desired limit. The rotating shafts -32 of retractable supports 3| are then lowered by rotating wheels 3d of each retractable support until platform I3 is locked in position.

The controlse61 are now set for the-raising operation and the hydraulic jack 68 is actuated so that the platen BI is raised and pressed against thelower cover 20 of the coke-drum. Bolts Be are now placed in the holes in the bolting lugs 62 and 63 of 'the two members locking the lower cover 20 to the hydraulic jackv 60. It ispcssible to'exert 1,000 pounds more than the weight of the cover which will keep the cover in position without any other holding apparatus. The pneumatic wrench 52 is now set upon the circular track 50, and by actuating a lever arm 5e, vertical movement is obtained which will raise the wrench 52 to engage the holding bolts 2l while the wrench is turned. The holding bolts 2| are next removed from the joint on the periphery of the manway which is covered by the lower cover` 20. At this time the main body of the platform I3 is cleared and the operator retires behind the protective shield 10. By use of the window 1I in the shield, he is able to observe the movement of the lower cover 20 as hydraulic pressure is released by his operation of the controls 61 and at the same time is protected from the possible eruption of fluid and coke which may. result when the seal is broken. Any released fluid and loose pieces of coke are carried through the open-grating floor of the platform I3 and dropped into a concrete trough 14, beneath theplatform I3, from which theyl may be removed by pumps.

In some instances the cover 20 may resist loosening by the above procedure due to adhesion of the coke on the inside surface, or for other reasons. In such event, the controls 61 can be changed to effect a downward pumping action and the lower cover 20 can be literally pulled from contact with the lower manway of the cokedrum ID when the hydraulic jack Si! is actuated. In this manner pressures as high as 27,000 pounds can be exerted, and this enormous pull can effect the complete lifting of the movable platform -I3 from the trolley beams I4 unless prevented by the afore-mentioned locking ability of the four retractable supports or positioners 3l previously s'et.

After the lower cover 20' is loosened, all hydraulic pressure is removed from the jack Se and the cover 'is lowered to a resetting position on guided column 65 supported on the movable platform. The supports 3i are retracted and the platform I3, now holding the cover Eil, is moved transversely away from the coke-drum I'onto thecrane beams I5 and clear of the main structure I2. With the rails 15 now being clear, freight-car 21 can be moved directly under the lowerr manway and the coke-drum contents dropped therein. While the emptying process proceeds, the cover may be cleaned and made ready for reinstalling on the coke-drum.

After the contents of the coke-drum are deposited in the freight-car 21, the car is moved and the movable platform I3 is again positioned under the open manway as previously described. 'I'he controls 61 are set for the raising operation and the hydraulic jack Ie is actuated. The cover 2U lis thus raised and forced against the manwayperiphery. The wrench 52-is replaced upon the track-t0A and hold-ing bolts 2-I are set'. The bolts 6 64 between the bolting'lugs 62 andate-ofzthe cover 2-0 and the cover-,holding platen 6I are next removed. The hydraulic shaft 16 isv retracted, carrying with it the cover-holding platen 6 I. .The supports 3l are next retracted, and the movable platform I3 and all its apparatus are moved onto the crane beams I5 ready for longitudinal Amovement tothe next coke-drum Il to be uncovered.

While a particular embodiment of the appa,- ratus of the present invention has been `described for the purpose of illustration, it should be understood that various modifications and adaptationsv thereof which will be obvious to one skilled in the art may be made without departing from .the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described our invention `we claim: 1. In a batch-type coking plant, comprisingat least one coking vessel, a structure for support.- ing said vessel above grade, and a lower cover von said vessel, said cover beingattached byimeans of peripheral holding bolts to rthe undersidel of saidvessel, apparatus for removing said cover which includes: a pair of parallel trolley beams horizontally disposed under said vessel on opposite sides of said lower cover; a platform mov# ably suspended from said trolley beams and adapted to be moved to or from a position under said cover on said beams; peripheral track means horizontally disposed on said platform, said track means being disposed under said holding bolts when said platform is positioned under said lower cover; wrench means movable on said track and adapted to remove said holding bolts from said cover; a vertical hydraulic jack positioned on said platform substantially concentric with said track means and adapted to lower or raise said cover; retractable supports on said platform. adapted to exactly locate and assume the thrust or pull of said jack withoutr substantially stress-l ing said trolley beams; and a hydraulic pump and controls on said platform adapted to raise or lower said hydraulic jack. 2. In a batch-type coking plant, comprising at least one coking vessel, a structure for supporting said vessel above grade, and a lower cover on said vessel, said cover being attached Yby means of peripheral holding bolts to the underside of said vessel, apparatus for removing said cover which includes: a pair of parallel .trolley beams horizontally disposed under said 1vessel, on opposite sides of said lower cover; a platform movably suspended from said trolley beamsY and adapted tolbe moved to or from a lpositionunder said cover onsaid beams.; peripheral track means.. horizontally disposed on said platform, said track means being disposed under said holding bolts when :said platform ispositioned under 'said lower cover; wrench means movable on said track and adapted to remove said holding bolts from said cover; a vertical hydraulic jack posi-v tioned on said platform substantially concentric. with said track means and adapted to lower 'or raise said cover; retractable supports on` said platform adapted to exactly locate and assume the thrust or pull of said jack without substan tially stressing said trolley beams; hydraulic pump and controls on said platform adapted to raise or lower said hydraulic jack; and shieldingmeans between said hydraulic means and conltrols and the region of said platform under said 7 cover on each of said vessels, said covers being attached by, means of peripheral holding bolts to the underside of said vessels, apparatus for removing said covers which includes; a pair of parallel trolley beams horizontally disposed under each of said vessels on opposite sides of said lower covers; a craneway running alongside said lower covers and at right angles to and connecting each pair of said trolley beams; a pair of trolley beams movably suspended from said craneway and adapted to be moved into alignment with each pair of said trolley beams under said coking vessels; a platform movably suspended from said trolley beams and adapted to be moved to or from a position under each of said. covers on said beams; peripheral track means` horizontally disposed on said platform, saidtrack means being disposed under said holding bolts when said platform is positioned under said lower covers; wrench means movable on said track and adapted to remove said holding bolts from said covers; a vertical hydraulic jack positioned on said platform substantially concentric with said track means and adapted to lower or raise said covers; retractable supports on said platform adapted to exactly locate and assume the thrust or pull of said jack without substantially stressing said trolley beams; and a hydraulic pump and controls on said platform adapted to raise or lower said hydraulic jack.

`4. In a batch-type coking plant, comprising a plurality of coking vessels, a structure for supporting said vessels above grade, and a lower cover on each of said vessels, said covers being attached by means of peripheral holding bolts to the underside of said vessels, apparatus for removing said covers which includes: a pair of parallel trolley beams horizontally disposed under each of said vessels on opposite sides of said lower covers; a craneway running alongside said lower covers and at right angles to and connecting each pair of said trolley beams; a pair of trolley beams movably suspended from said craneway and adapted to be moved into alignment with eachpair of said trolley beams under said coking Vessels; a platform movably suspended from said trolley beams and adapted to be moved to or from a position under each of said covers on said beams; peripheral track means horizontally disposed on said platform, said track means beingv disposed under said holding bolts when Asaid platform is positioned under said lower covers; wrench means movable on said track and adapted to remove said holding bolts from said covers; avertical hydraulic'jack positioned onA said platform substantially concentric with said track means and adapted to lower on .raise said covers; retractable supports on said platform adapted to exactly locate and assume the thrust or pull of said jack without substantially stressing said trolley beams; hydraulic pump and controls on said platform adapted to raise or lower said hydraulic jack; and shielding means between said hydraulic means and controls and the region of said platform under said lower cover.

5. In a batch-type coking plant, comprising at least one ooking vessel, a structure for support-` ingsaid vessel above grade, and-a lower c overV on said vessel, said cover being attached by, means cf .peripheral holding bolts to the underside of said vessel, apparatus for removing said cover which includes: a pair of parallel trolley beams horizontally disposed under said vessel on opposite sides of said lower cover; a platform tially concentric with said track means "and:A

adapted to lower or raise said cover; retractable supports on said-platform adapted to exactly'locate and assume the thrust or pull of said jack without substantially stressing said trolley beams; and a hydraulic pump and controls on said platform adapted to raise or lower said hydraulic jack.

6. In a batch-type coking plant, comprising at least one coking vessel, a structure for supporting said vessel above grade, and a lower cover on said vessel, said cover being 'attached by means of peripheral holding bolts to the underside of said vessel, apparatus for removing said cover which includes: a pair of parallel trolley beams horizontally disposed under said vessel on opposite sides of said lower cover; a platform movably suspended from said trolley beams and adapted to be moved to or from a position under said cover:

on said beams; peripheral track means horizontally disposed on said platform, said track means being disposed under said holding bolts when said platform is positioned under said lower cover; wrench means movable on said track and adapted to remove said holding bolts from said cover; a

vertical hydraulic jack; a platen fixed to said- 7. In a batch-type coking plant, comprising a' plurality of coking vessels, aA structure for supporting said vessels above grade, and a lower cover on each of said vessels, said covers being' attached by means of peripheral holdingbolts to the underside of said vessels, apparatus forlremoving said covers which includes: a pair of parallel trolley beams horizontally disposed under each of said Vessels on opposite sides ofl saidl lower covers; a craneway running alongside said lower covers and atright angles to and connecting each pair of said trolley beams; a pairof trolley beams movably suspended from said craneway and adapted to be moved into align ment with each pair of said trolley beams under said coking vessels; a platform movably suspend-v.

ed from said trolley beams and adapted to be moved to or from a position under each of said covers on said beams; peripheral track means horizontally disposed on said platform, said track means being disposed under said holding boltsl when said platform is positioned under saidlower covers; wrench means movable on said 'track and adapted to remove said holding bolts from said covers; a vertical hydraulic jack; a platen fixed. to said hydraulic jack, said jack and platen being;v

positioned on said platform substantially concentric with said track means and adapted to lower or raise said covers; retractable supports on said platform adapted to exactly locate and assume the thrust or pull of said jack without substantially stressing said trolley beams; and a hydraulic pump and controls on said platform adapted to raise or lower said hydraulic jack.

8. In a batch-type coking plant, comprising a plurality of coking vessels, a structure for supporting said vessels above grade, and `a lower cover on each of said vessels, said covers being attached by means of peripheral holding bolts to the underside of said vessels, apparatus for removing said covers which includes: a pair of parallel trolley beams horizontally disposed under each of said vessels on opposite sides of said lower covers; a craneway running alongside said lower covers and at right angles to and connecting each pair of said trolley beams; a pair of trolley beams movably suspended from said craneway and adapted to be moved into alignment with each pair of said trolley beams under said coking vessels; a platform movably suspended from said trolley beams and adapted to be moved to or from a position under each of said covers on said beams; peripheral track means horizontally disposed on said platform, said track means being disposed under said holding bolts when said platform is positioned under said lower covers; wrench means movable on said track and adapted to remove said holding bolts from said covers; a vertical hydraulic jack; a platen xed to said hydraulic jack, said jack and platen being positioned on said platform substantially concentric with said track means and adapted to lower or raise said covers; retractable supports on said platform adapted to exactly locate and assume the thrust or pull of said jack without substantially stressing said trolley beams; hydraulic` pump and controls on said platform adapted to raise or lower said hydraulic jack; and shielding means between said hydraulic means and controls and the region of said platform under said lower cover.

- EUGENE GRANDINETTI.

JOHN J. RUSH. OLIVER C. BALMER.

No references cited. 

